"Set in the splendour of Thierry Despont’s magnificent Foyer, inspired by the 1930s’ heyday of art deco" the surrounds are beautiful, and nothing quite beats the soft tinkle of tea cups, soft jazz and tea chatter of an afternoon.
29 June 2015
Claridge's Afternoon Tea
Claridge's is simply the epitome of London luxury Afternoon Tea. Every aspect is presented with a grace and style that many hotels attempt to emulate but don't quite achieve - the mark of 150 years of practice.
"Set in the splendour of Thierry Despont’s magnificent Foyer, inspired by the 1930s’ heyday of art deco" the surrounds are beautiful, and nothing quite beats the soft tinkle of tea cups, soft jazz and tea chatter of an afternoon.
"Set in the splendour of Thierry Despont’s magnificent Foyer, inspired by the 1930s’ heyday of art deco" the surrounds are beautiful, and nothing quite beats the soft tinkle of tea cups, soft jazz and tea chatter of an afternoon.
27 June 2015
Hotel California, Hollywood, Los Angeles
On a dark desert highway, cold wind in our hair We zipped and threaded our way through a mismatch of traffic. Fashionably sleek convertibles shared the road with dusty pick-up trucks, people-mover mom-mobiles swapped lanes with small busses.
The warm smell of colitas rising up through the air and a dusty, piquant smell whispered through the windows of our ride from Los Angeles airport - we simply couldn't wait to shake off the gross feeling of a 12-hour flight from London.
Up ahead in the distance, we saw a shimmering light, our heads grew heavy and our sight grew dim - we had to stop for the night. As we got closer into civilization, the neon lights began to get bigger and brighter in the evening sky, advertising everything in dollars, nickels and dimes, before giving way to Hollywood musical theatre boards.
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell / And I was thinking to myself, "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" We tumbled into our LA nest for our short trip, a private Hollywood apartment in the centre of all things tinseltown crazy.
The warm smell of colitas rising up through the air and a dusty, piquant smell whispered through the windows of our ride from Los Angeles airport - we simply couldn't wait to shake off the gross feeling of a 12-hour flight from London.
 |
| Apologies for the slightly hazy camera phone photos, holidaying in America has a strange way of losing my camera...every. single. time. |
Up ahead in the distance, we saw a shimmering light, our heads grew heavy and our sight grew dim - we had to stop for the night. As we got closer into civilization, the neon lights began to get bigger and brighter in the evening sky, advertising everything in dollars, nickels and dimes, before giving way to Hollywood musical theatre boards.
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell / And I was thinking to myself, "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" We tumbled into our LA nest for our short trip, a private Hollywood apartment in the centre of all things tinseltown crazy.
26 June 2015
Friday figments and photos: An ode to the city that stole my heart
Come to think of it, this entire blog is an ode to the magical city I live in. Add a sunshine-filled summer into the mix and how can it be beaten? Slip in a cheeky Pimms (or Vodka, Lime, Lemon & Bitters if it's an antipodean bartender) in an olde-worlde pub, weekday picnic lunches, canal-side wandering, brunches with the girls and historic palaces accidentally stumbled upon and you have a rather fantastic week in the making.
Call me rose-tinted spectacle wearing, but with a touch of canny commuting, planning delicious assignations, luck and making sure there's always something to look forward to, London is my oyster. Even on those nasty Monday mornings where the world seems like it could end...
This is my summer in London, the city that I adore.
Call me rose-tinted spectacle wearing, but with a touch of canny commuting, planning delicious assignations, luck and making sure there's always something to look forward to, London is my oyster. Even on those nasty Monday mornings where the world seems like it could end...
This is my summer in London, the city that I adore.
24 June 2015
My favourite Summer recipes
It's finally here. With the summer solstice officially declaring the sun season open, my fridge has have been telling us the self same for a good month or so. Our diet has switched from hearty winter stews and roasts, to featherlight meals full of crisp fresh vegetables, ready to eat snackables and the occasional cool treat.
Guiltless Breakfast Cake
Fat free, sugar free, gluten free (depending on the ingredients you use obviously...). Quick, healthy, easy and fully customisable cake for breakfast perfect with an iced coffee. You're not going to believe me...
30-second Sunshine Smoothies
Bursting with fresh zingy citrus, these are light, nutritious and scrumptious. Substitute your favourite fruits or whatever you have on hand.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothies
When I saw that you can make a smoothie out of pumpkin puree (canned or homemade) I had to get out my smoothie maker and have a try. I made a couple of amendments to it; adding Oats to it to make it into more of a breakfast item, adding more Cinnamon and Nutmeg and substitute ice cubes, as I didn't have any, for frozen Mango Chunks.
Sweetcorn Fritters
There is something luscious about the crisp exterior, the soft internal structure then the tidbits of creamed Sweetcorn that make my mouthwater.
Especially on lazy weekends, lunch and dinner become hazily interchangeable. Often taken in the sunshine, we decamp to the backyard or our favorite parks armed with a picnic blanket, glass of something crisp wet and cool, and a selection of our favourite cold and hot treats. Our meals usually feature a touch of everything in the fridge, improvised Ploughman's Platters; cheese, pickles, beetroot, salad leaves, dips, cold meat, boiled eggs, vegetable crudite, a couple of slices of quiche and pie, and the odd scotch egg.
Crustless Quiche
This is a quick recipe, great for slimmers, summer picnics, gluten-free bods and, well, me. We love to slice it up and to take it to work for lunch and picnics - much to the envy of my colleagues eating their dry shop-made ham sandwiches.
Bacon and Egg Pie
One of my childhood loves is Bacon and Egg pie. Oh it is so good. All the stuff that is bad for you: puff pastry, bacon, eggs and tomatoes. Traditionally, I'm told, this is made for farmers to be eaten cold at the back of the farm - it's full of energy giving fats and a slice of a well-cooked pie can be easily held in one hand (much like the crust on Cornish Pasties).
Creamy Pumpkin, Chestnut & Bason Pasta
Perfect for an hot or cold, this dish is quick and light, but refreshing and filling - and not too bad on the calorie front.
Stuffed Butternut Squash
The soft sweetness of the pumpkin goes really well with the salty bacon, tomatoes and plum sauce, followed by the crisp cheese & breadcrumbs. Most of the ingredients can be swapped out for what you have on hand or tastes you prefer.
Mediterranean Vegetable Bake
Draped in slices of melted halloumi, seasoned with your favourite herbs, and packed full of as many vegetables as you can slip in, it's full of everything that's good.
Afghans, Jaffa Slice, Ginger Crunch Slice, Melting Moments and Lolly Cake
My New Zealand childhood summarised in 11 words and a few couple of baking trays...
Absolutely Guilt Free Ice-Cream
It is simplicity within itself. As with most of my recipes and cooking, it's fully customisable - I'd add bashed fruit (strawberry, kiwifruit, banana, orange, lemon, cherries...) to add a few vitamins, flavourings (I personally love peppermint essence, vanilla, coffee melted in a touch of hot water...) or anything you have in your cupboards (coconut, nuts - though watch your teeth, raisins, smooth peanut butter...) The results are only as limited as your imagination.
Mojitos
Homemade cocktails can be really easy, and really fun to make - Mojitos don't even need a cocktail Shaker. Another bonus is you can personalise them to how you like drinking them; more Lime, less Mint, a touch more Sugar. Summer in a glass...
What are your favourite Summer recipes?
Breakfast & Brunch
Guiltless Breakfast Cake
Fat free, sugar free, gluten free (depending on the ingredients you use obviously...). Quick, healthy, easy and fully customisable cake for breakfast perfect with an iced coffee. You're not going to believe me...
30-second Sunshine Smoothies
Bursting with fresh zingy citrus, these are light, nutritious and scrumptious. Substitute your favourite fruits or whatever you have on hand.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothies
When I saw that you can make a smoothie out of pumpkin puree (canned or homemade) I had to get out my smoothie maker and have a try. I made a couple of amendments to it; adding Oats to it to make it into more of a breakfast item, adding more Cinnamon and Nutmeg and substitute ice cubes, as I didn't have any, for frozen Mango Chunks.
Sweetcorn Fritters
There is something luscious about the crisp exterior, the soft internal structure then the tidbits of creamed Sweetcorn that make my mouthwater.
Lunch & Dinner
Especially on lazy weekends, lunch and dinner become hazily interchangeable. Often taken in the sunshine, we decamp to the backyard or our favorite parks armed with a picnic blanket, glass of something crisp wet and cool, and a selection of our favourite cold and hot treats. Our meals usually feature a touch of everything in the fridge, improvised Ploughman's Platters; cheese, pickles, beetroot, salad leaves, dips, cold meat, boiled eggs, vegetable crudite, a couple of slices of quiche and pie, and the odd scotch egg.
Crustless Quiche
This is a quick recipe, great for slimmers, summer picnics, gluten-free bods and, well, me. We love to slice it up and to take it to work for lunch and picnics - much to the envy of my colleagues eating their dry shop-made ham sandwiches.
Bacon and Egg Pie
One of my childhood loves is Bacon and Egg pie. Oh it is so good. All the stuff that is bad for you: puff pastry, bacon, eggs and tomatoes. Traditionally, I'm told, this is made for farmers to be eaten cold at the back of the farm - it's full of energy giving fats and a slice of a well-cooked pie can be easily held in one hand (much like the crust on Cornish Pasties).
Creamy Pumpkin, Chestnut & Bason Pasta
Perfect for an hot or cold, this dish is quick and light, but refreshing and filling - and not too bad on the calorie front.
BBQ Favourites
When we're really organised we crank out the BBQ and armed with a few beers we get all prehistoric with good meat covered in all sorts of glazes, jacket potatoes buried in the coals, coleslaw and a couple of our favourite sides. Speaking of which, the next time you roll out the BBQ - chuck on a couple of halved and seeded capsicums (peppers) - the smoke and heat brings out a wonderful sweetness, and as you sit down to eat your BBQ feast, pop on a couple of honey glazed, halved peaches to cook. They are heavenly served with a scoop of two of ice cream...
Stuffed Butternut Squash
The soft sweetness of the pumpkin goes really well with the salty bacon, tomatoes and plum sauce, followed by the crisp cheese & breadcrumbs. Most of the ingredients can be swapped out for what you have on hand or tastes you prefer.
Mediterranean Vegetable Bake
Draped in slices of melted halloumi, seasoned with your favourite herbs, and packed full of as many vegetables as you can slip in, it's full of everything that's good.
 |
| Undressed Vege bake, with a corner serving or two of Chicken Breast |
Desserts & Afters
Afghans, Jaffa Slice, Ginger Crunch Slice, Melting Moments and Lolly Cake
My New Zealand childhood summarised in 11 words and a few couple of baking trays...
Absolutely Guilt Free Ice-Cream
It is simplicity within itself. As with most of my recipes and cooking, it's fully customisable - I'd add bashed fruit (strawberry, kiwifruit, banana, orange, lemon, cherries...) to add a few vitamins, flavourings (I personally love peppermint essence, vanilla, coffee melted in a touch of hot water...) or anything you have in your cupboards (coconut, nuts - though watch your teeth, raisins, smooth peanut butter...) The results are only as limited as your imagination.
Mojitos
Homemade cocktails can be really easy, and really fun to make - Mojitos don't even need a cocktail Shaker. Another bonus is you can personalise them to how you like drinking them; more Lime, less Mint, a touch more Sugar. Summer in a glass...
What are your favourite Summer recipes?
22 June 2015
The truth unveiled about Picadilly Circus, and why we've been telling lies for years
We've all been living a lie about one of the most iconic bastions of London life. Lotharios have used it as an assignation point with their mistresses since the early 1900s, millions of tourists over the years have arranged to meet friends on the steps before they explore the city, and thousands of bloggers have used it to rendezvous for afternoon tea.
Eros, the boy statue armed with a bow and arrow, hovers protectively over the bustling heart of Picadilly Circus (or it was until city planners shifted slightly over to make way for traffic lanes to be added to) ready to sink his arrow into any miscreants up to mischief. Soaring a-top the bronze Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, this nubile young god lies in wait for any passerbys and umpteen selfie stick situations.
But we've all been living a lie.
Eros, the boy statue armed with a bow and arrow, hovers protectively over the bustling heart of Picadilly Circus (or it was until city planners shifted slightly over to make way for traffic lanes to be added to) ready to sink his arrow into any miscreants up to mischief. Soaring a-top the bronze Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, this nubile young god lies in wait for any passerbys and umpteen selfie stick situations.
But we've all been living a lie.
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